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The Zo languages (also referred to as Zohnathlak) are a geographic and linguistic grouping within the Sino-Tibetan language family. This term is more factual and accurate than the widely used but imprecise term Kuki-Chin–Naga, which appears in James Matisoff's classification as a non-monophyletic branch of "Tibeto-Burman" used for convenience in Ethnologue. The genealogical relationships within the Zo languages, and their connections to the broader Sino-Tibetan family, remain unresolved and require further research.

These languages are spoken by the ethnically related Zo people, the Chin people of Myanmar, the Hmar, Mizo ,Kuki ,Zou (etc) people of Northeast India.

The larger languages within this group include Mizo (674,756 speakers in India as of 2001). While "Kuki" and "Chin" are largely synonymous, the term "Zo languages" is preferred for its cultural and linguistic accuracy.

This classification highlights the need for ongoing research to clarify the relationships and heritage of the Zo languages while providing a more accurate representation of their shared linguistic and cultural affinities.

Languages

The established branches are:

• Kuki-Chin
  • Northwestern / Southern Naga
  • Northern
  • Central
  • Maraic
  • Khomic
  • Southern
• Naga
  • Ao, in north-central Nagaland
  • Angami–Pochuri, in southern Nagaland
  • Tangkhul-Maring, in eastern Manipur
  • Zeme, in northwestern Manipur
• Meitei, the official language of Manipur
• Karbi, in Karbi Anglong, Central Assam

The Konyak languages of Nagaland, also spoken by ethnic Naga, are not grouped within Kuki-Chin–Naga, but rather within Brahmaputran (Sal).

Ethnologue adds Koki, Long Phuri, Makuri, and Para, all unclassified, and all distant from other Naga languages they have been compared to. Koki is perhaps closest to (or one of) the Tangkhulic languages, and the other three may belong together.

Classification

Scott DeLancey (2015) considers Kuki-Chin–Naga to be part of a wider Central Tibeto-Burman group.

The following is a preliminary internal classification of the Kuki-Chin–Naga languages by Hsiu (2021).

• Northern Kuki-Chin-Naga linguistic area (linkage)
  • Greater Central Naga
    • Makury
    • Long Phuri
    • Para (Jejara)
    • Central Naga
      • Lotha
      • Sangtam
      • Yimchungrü
      • Ao
  • Angami-Pochuri
    • Angamic-Sumic
      • Angamic
        • Angami, Chokri
        • Khezha
        • Mao
        • Poumai
      • Sumic
        • Sumi
        • Rengma
    • Pochuric
      • Meluri
      • Ntenyi
• Southern Kuki-Chin-Naga branch
  • Greater Zeme ("Western Naga")
    • Zeme, Mzieme, Liangmai
    • Nruanghmei
    • Maram
    • Khoirao
    • Puiron
  • Greater Tangkhulic
    • Akyaung Ari
    • Tangkhulic
  • Maring, Khoibu (Uipo)
  • Kokak
  • Suansu (?)
  • Southern Naga
  • Kuki-Chin
    • Northern
    • Central
    • Maraic
    • Southern
    • Khomic

References

1. DeLancey, Scott. 2015. "Morphological Evidence for a Central Branch of Trans-Himalayan (Sino-Tibetan)." Cahiers de linguistique - Asie oriental 44(2):122-149. December 2015. doi:10.1163/19606028-00442p02
2. Hsiu, Andrew (2021). "Kuki-Chin-Naga". Sino-Tibetan Branches Project. Retrieved 2024-09-17.

Reconstructions

• Bruhn, Daniel W. 2014. A phonological reconstruction of Proto-Central Naga. Ph.D. Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley.
• Mortensen, David R. 2012. Database of Tangkhulic Languages. (unpublished ms. contributed to STEDT).
• VanBik, Kenneth. 2009. Proto-Kuki-Chin: A reconstructed ancestor of the Kuki-Chin languages. STEDT Monograph Series 8. Berkeley, CA: STEDT.
• Khoi Lam Thang. 2001. A phonological reconstruction of Proto Chin. M.A. Dissertation, Payap University.
• Button, Christopher. 2011. Proto Northern Chin. STEDT Monograph Series 10. Berkeley, CA: STEDT.

External links

• Kuki-Chin-Naga Archived 2020-10-22 at the Wayback Machine (Sino-Tibetan Branches Project)

v t e Sino-Tibetan branches
Western Himalayas (Himachal, Uttarakhand, Nepal, Sikkim)	West Himalayish Tamangic Newaric Newar Baram–Thangmi Kiranti Dhimalish Dhimal Toto Lhokpu Lepcha Greater Magaric Magaric Magar Kham Chepangic Chepang Bhujel Raji–Raute Dura–Tandrange
Eastern Himalayas (Tibet, Bhutan, Arunachal)	Bodish Tibetic East Bodish Tshangla Basum Nam? Gongduk ʼOle Tani Chamdo
Myanmar and Indo- Burmese border	Karbi Kuki-Chin Mruic Mru Hkongso Pyu Taman "Naga" Ao Angami–Pochuri Meitei Tangkhulic Zeme Sal Boro–Garo Konyak Jingpho–Luish
East and Southeast Asia	Sinitic Bai Tujia Nungish Karenic Gong Kathu Cai–Long Caijia Longjia Luren Burmo-Qiangic Qiangic Gyalrongic Ersuic Naic Lolo-Burmese Mondzish Burmish Loloish
Dubious (possible isolates) (Arunachal)	Hrusish Hruso Mijiic Kho-Bwa Puroik Miju–Meyor Songlin Greater Siangic Siangic Koro Milang Idu–Taraon
Proposed groupings	Central Tibeto-Burman Kuki-Chin–Naga Macro-Bai Mahakiranti Rung Tibeto-Burman Tibeto-Kanauri
Proto-languages	Proto-Sino-Tibetan Proto-Tibeto-Burman Proto-Loloish Proto-Karenic Proto-Min Proto-Hakka
Italics indicates single languages that are also considered to be separate branches.

• Kuki-Chin–Naga languages